REU Site: Leveraging Engineering Education Research for U.S. Workforce Development

The United States needs engineers who are prepared to meet the demands of rapidly evolving industries. With rapid technological advancement, the rise of artificial intelligence, aging infrastructure, and increasing pressures on supply chains and national security, the engineering workforce must be adaptable and prepared for complex challenges. Engineering education research (EER) plays a critical role in ensuring that engineers are not only technically competent, but also skilled in leadership, communication, ethical reasoning, and lifelong learning. Through theory-driven research on how engineers learn, collaborate, and develop as professionals, EER generates evidence-based findings that inform curriculum design, classroom instruction, and pathways to professional preparedness. Despite its importance, EER faces challenges in recruiting future scholars due to limited undergraduate pathways, a small number of degree programs, and low awareness of the field among students and faculty. This project supports a Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Site at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln that addresses these challenges by providing immersive research experiences that connect engineering education research to real-world engineering practice and U.S. workforce development. By engaging students in projects such as developing evidence-based safety training in construction contexts, the program highlights the societal relevance of EER and its potential to improve professional practice and save lives. The program prioritizes access by recruiting students from institutions with limited research opportunities and aims to broaden participation in STEM, strengthen pathways into graduate education, and contribute to a more prepared and adaptable engineering workforce, thereby advancing national health, prosperity, and welfare. This REU Site builds on a successful program at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln that has engaged over 50 undergraduate researchers, including 21 NSF-supported participants, resulting in multiple conference papers and research presentations. The proposed program advances a unique embedded model of engineering education research, in which EER faculty are housed within traditional engineering departments, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration and authentic integration of educational research within disciplinary engineering contexts. The overall aim is to prepare undergraduate STEM students for independent research while facilitating a greater understanding of engineering education research and its connections to U.S. workforce development. Participants will engage in rigorous research aligned with established principles, including posing significant empirical questions, using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods, developing coherent chains of reasoning, and disseminating findings for professional scrutiny. The program also emphasizes ethical and just research practices and engages students with multiple forms of evidence and research purposes. Through mentored research, cohort-based professional development, and structured reflection, participants will develop transferable research skills in design, data analysis, and scholarly communication. The program will recruit a diverse cohort, with at least 50% from institutions with limited research opportunities, and will evaluate outcomes related to research skill development, understanding of EER, and interest in graduate study. This project will strengthen pathways into engineering education research, expand participation in the field, and advance scholarship at the intersection of engineering education and workforce development. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria. NSF Award ID: 2548104 | Program: 01002627DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT | Principal Investigator: Logan Perry | Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, LINCOLN, NE | Award Amount: $463,714 View on NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/show-award/?AWD_ID=2548104 View on Research.gov: https://www.research.gov/awardapi-service/v1/awards/2548104.html